What an Experience!

This entry is personal. It is an expression of what God has been doing in me and is meant to serve as an encouragement to those who read it.

This past week we were down at the annual conference for our fellowship. Following one of the evening sessions people were hanging out, praying with each other and singing. All around good times. I was just chilling in the balcony by myself, thinking, praying and singing.

The focus of my personal prayer was the issue of confidence. I am at a point in my life where I have never been more certain of my call to pastor and plant this church. I have never been more passionate about anything in my life than the birth of this new missional community. But, as all of you other church planters know, it can be lonely at times, frustrating and scary. I had noticed that my confidence would come and go. This was really started to become frustrating and ha taken center stage over the mission of the church. (at least internally, my concern is that it would seep into the external leadership of the church) Ok, so there I am, seeking God for a refreshing new boost of confidence. As I stood there I saw a couple that I had interned under in the early 90's. I felt strongly that God told me to go to them specifically and have them pray for me. I said, "no thanks" and stayed right where I was. When the feeling wouldn't leave me, I started noticing other friends around the room who I would have been more comfortable asking for this type of request.

I finally sucked it up and approached them and just spilled it out. I told them exactly what I was feeling. It was tough, but I let it fly. The wife had me wait a minute while she grabbed her journal. As she opened the journal to her entry from that morning I saw that across the top of the page was written the word CONFIDENCE. She proceeded to tell me that as she was praying that very morning she felt that God wanted her to find passages of scripture which dealt with and would build confidence.

As we stood there they encouraged me, borderline preached at me. I didn't care though.
It was an incredible moment. I was exactly what I needed.

I walked away with these two core truths:
Obedience to God's voice always leads to an adventurous, exciting and life impacting experience. It may seem insignificant at the time, but who knows what He is working out through the little stuff He leads you to do.

God cares so much for each one of us that he will use people and situations to remind us of this fact.

What a good night. I am refreshed today as I remember that God is so good.